Hydraulic punch



STATES PATENT FFICE.

F RANOIS H. STILLMAN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

HYDRAULIC PUNCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 507,666, dated October 31, 1893.

Application filed April 1, 1892- Serial NoAZ'LAOA. (N0 model.)

rails are laid upon the cross-ties, and rendered adjustable so as to punch holes centrally and in line in webs of various widths as will be hereinafter described.

Figure 1, represents a sectional-side elevation showing a portion of the casing broken away to illustrate the interior mechanism, and the manner of withdrawing the punch quickly from the web of a rail after punching a hole therein, and an end view of a rail in position to be punched. Fig. 2, is a cross section through the overhanging, hooked end, extending from the casing showing an adjustable and removable die mounted therein, in elevation-and a sectional view of an adjustable plate by which the punch may be adjusted up and down so as to punch holes centrally and in line in webs of varying widths. Fig. 3, is an elevation of the rear end of this portable, hydraulic, hand punch to show the manner of operating the hydraulic pump, and withdrawing the punch from a web. Figs. 4 and 5, represent respectively a side elevation and cross section through the line X. X. of a shaft having cogs therein to take into corresponding cogs formed in the side of the piston-rod by means of which the punch, secured thereto, may be quickly withdrawn from a web after having punched a hole therein as shown in Fig. 6.

Similar letters of reference indicate correresponding parts throughout the several views.

In order to adapt a hand punch, operated by a hydraulic pump and render it available in punching bolt-holes, for the fish-plates, in the web of railroad rails after the rails are laid upon the cross-ties, the first importance in actual practice is to reduce the instrument to the minimum weight consistent'with the strength required in order that it may be carried by hand along the track and quickly adjusted to and removed from the rails, and to arrange the hydraulic pump by which it is to be operated in position with reference to the movement of the piston carrying the punch, that said pump may be operated independent of obstructions along the track, and to reduce the length of the pump to the utmost limit. To effect these objects that part A. of the casing to which an ordinary piston O. and piston-rod B. are fitted, and to which piston-rod a punch E. is secured, is reduced to a length admitting only of the movement back and forth of the punch E. required to pass through the webs, the hydraulic pump F, be ing secured perpendicularly to the casing A. as shown in Fig. 1. in which perpendicular position said pump may be operated free of all obstructions along the rails.

To limit the length of the overhanging hooked end or jaw G. to the utmost and admit of introducing the tread H. of a rail between ts inner surface and the end of the punch E., this hooked end is fitted with a removable and adjustable die J. which is to be removed from its seat when the tread H. of a rail is to be introduced, and replaced as shown in Figs. 1. and 2. when a web is to be punched, this die being retained in position by means of a hooked latch N. and stop-pin O-thus it will be seen that by the above described description and arrangement of the various parts constituting this punch, a portable and useful hand implement adapted to punching holes for fish-plates in the web of railroad rails is produced, and rendered adj ustable to the various widths of webs to be punched.

To withdraw the punch E. quickly from the web to the position as shown in Fig. 1. a shaft L. is fitted to the casing A. provided with cogs R. taking ,into. corresponding cogs P. formed in the upper side of the piston-rod B., said shaft L. being operated to withdraw the piston, with the punch E. secured thereto, by means of a lever T. in the usual manner of operating similar mechanism.

An ordinary hydraulic pump and cistern F. is mounted upon and secured to the upper side of the casing A. by which the piston-rod B. carrying the punch E. is to be operated in punching, the power-imparting fluid passing therefrom through a channel V. into the cylinder between the piston C. and cylinder head 1. consisting of an ordinary screw-plug.

A base M. is formed on the lower-side of the casing A. in order to maintain this instrument in an upright position as shown.

To adjust this instrument so that holes may be punched centrally, and accurately in line, in webs of varying widths, a plate S. is fitted to the lower side of this hook-shaped end G. in the space directly above the rail and adj ustable up and down by means of bolts and nuts U. so that the lower surface of this plate may rest upon the tread of the rail as shown in Fig. 1.

The operation of thisporta'ble, removable and adjustable punch in punching holes in the web of railroad railsmay be briefly clescribed as follows: The die J. is removed from" its seat and the overhanging hookshaped end G. of the casing A. is placed so as to admit the thread H. of the rail in the space between its inner face and the end of the punch E., the removable die J. is then replaced and locked in position by means of the stop 0. and hooked latch N. as shown in Fig. 1.--the hydraulic pump is then operated in the usual manner, the power-conveying liquid therefrom flowing into the cylinder through the channel V. and forcing the piston-rod 13., carrying the punch E. forward to punch a hole in the web as shown. After a hole is punched and the lever T in the end of the shaft L. is turned backward to withdraw, by means of the cog gearing, the punch from the web of a rail to the position shown in Fig. 1., the die J. is removed from its seat and the instrument withdrawn from the rail to repeat the operation as before described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A portable and adjustable hydraulic punch adapted to punching holes in webs of varying'widths of railroad rails after the rails are secured to the cross-ties consisting of an overhanging jaw-a punch and die thereina hydraulic pump mounted upon and secured perpendicularly to said jaw and an adjustable plate by which to raise and lower and adjust said jaw with respect to the rail substantially as he'reinsetforth and shown.

2. A portable and adjustable hydraulic punch adapted to punching holes in" webs of varying widths of railroad rails after the rails are secured to the cross*-ties consisting of an overhanging j awto admit the railsa punch and die therein and an adjustable platesecured to said overhanging jaw'for adjusting the jaw with respect to the rails substantially as herein shown and described.

3. In a hydraulic punch adapted to punching holes in webs of varying widths'of railroad rails in combination with the overhanging jaw thereof theadjustable plate carried upon the overhanging jawand adapted tobear upon the surface of the rails to adjust said jaw up and down substantially as and for the purpose hereinset forth.

FRANCIS H. STILLMAN.

Witnesses:

GEO. L. GILLoN, CHAS. E. A. ONEILL. 

